Electrical weft detector for looms



Oct. 3, 1933. o. v. PAYNE ELECTRICAL WEFT DETECTQH FOR LOOKS Filed June 14. 1929 [NI/EN TOR 0504/? V. PA )W5 m, M

A 7'7'0RNEY5 Patented Oct. 3, 1933 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in weft closing of a normally open] circuit maybe cffected when the arm swings, the circuit being connected to the stopping mechanism of looms equipped with electrical stop motions.

In my prior' application Ser. No. 200,481 I have shown a side slipping weft detector having movable elements located between a bed and a cap,

these two parts being heldtog ether andcl'amped to a supporting stand. The detector element as set forth in said application has a forwardly extending tail which projects beyond the edge of the bed and cap to engage a pivoted indication giving element. It is a further object ofmy present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive plate which may be interposed between the bed and the supporting stand and provided with an electrical contact insulated from the plate but adapted for engagement with the forwardly extending tail. When such contact takes place a circuit one side of which is grounded to the loom frame will be closed to effect loom stoppage. a

It isa further object of my present invention to adapt a normally mechanically operating feeler so that the same may close an electric circuit to operate through electromagnetic devices to stop the loom, the detector being convertible from the mechanical form to the electrical and vice versa merely by. interchanging the contact plate and the pivotedindicating element. w

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth, Fig; 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a loom having my invention applied thereto,

Fig, 2 is a top plan view taken in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1 as viewed from the front of the loom and showing .my detector in normal position,

V Fig. 3 is a perspective vi'ew'of the plate, and

QFig. '4 is an enlarged side elevation of the detector. 1 Referring to Fig. 1 I have shown a loom frame 10 having. a lay'j'11 on which is movable the shuttle S. The warp beam W supplies the warp F which passes over thewhip roll 12 and through the harnesses 13. Intermediate the whip roll 12 and harnesses 13 is located a warp stop motion 14 which may preferably be of the electrical type. The shipper-1 handle 15 may be of the forward pull type and is adapted to be moved from the full line running position shown in Fig. 1 in a right hand direction by electromagnet 16. The electromagnet is preferably connected by means of 'a wire 17 torone side of a transformer desig- In like manner the one side of the electromagnet 16 is grounded to the loom frame.

Normally this circuit willibe open but upon closing the'circuit by the electrical warp stop motion 14 current will flow from the transformer through the ,wires and magnet to energize the latter and cause thesame to move the shipper handle to stopping position. The warpj stop motion connections are given herein merely to illustrate an electrically operating loom stopping device. I do not wish to be limited to a warp stop motion,' however, as any electrical equipment which'isefiective to "stop the loom through the.

agency of electromagnetic means may be employed.

, The weft detector mechanism, comprises a stand 30 which may be secured in any approved manner to the'loom frame 10 and has a horizon? tal foot 31 on which rests the bed 32 of the weft detector. The bed is provided with'a slot 33 in which is slidably mounted a carrier 34 on which Upon engagementwith a sufficient supply of V weft the detector will be held against angular thereby compressing the spring 40 and moving,

the slide carrier 34 forwardly. When the weft remaining in the active shuttle is insuificient .to continue weaving, however, the teeth 3'7 will slide along the bare bobbin, the arm moving around the pivot 35 as an axis andtheslide 34 remaining at rest The tail-38 will thereupon be moved to the left to assume the position shown in light dotted lines 43. In orderto hold the detector and carrier in proper position I provide a cap 44 which may be held to the base or bed by means of a screw 45. A bolt 46 passes through a slot 4'7 extending vertically through thegcap and bed a and said bolt has a nut 48 which clamps the cap and bed to the foot 31. The detector thus far described is substantially the sameas that shown in my previously identified co-pending application. The matter thus far describedyof itself,

designated at 50. This, plate has a slot 51' which is-p'o's'itioned to align with the slot 4'7 of the derec r 1. and said plate has two upstanding lugs 52 and 53wliich are located preferably at the rear and forward portions, respectively; of the plate. The lug. 52' is diagonally disposed so as to con- H form closely to'the diagonal edge 54 of the bed whilethe' lug 53 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of sliding of the carrier 34 and is located in front of the bed as shown particularly "in Figs. 2 and 4.

.The plate has a lateral extension 55 to which is secured by means of screws 56 a small piece of jinsmau g material 57 preferably bakelite, fiber, or some similar material. Mounted on the insulator -57 is'a contact element 58 having an upstanding horizontal face 59 which is so placed as to} be in engaging position with respect tothe tail 38 when the latter moves to the dotted line position shown'at 43 in Fig. 2. ,Said plate 58 138,..will engage 'the'fac'e 59, whereupon current will flow from the transformer T over wire "18 th TQugh wire 61, bolt ,60, plate 58, face '59, tail 38 "through the slide 34, bed 32 and plate 50 to the frame of the loom, up from the latter through wire. 20, electromagne't l6 and back to the transformer by means'of wire 1'7. Current flowingdn thi's circuitwill energize the electromagnetic device 16 which will act to move the shipper handle to loom stopping position.

. It is to be understood that while I have shown a particular methodof electrically connecting the weftdetector withan existing circuit on the loom, yet I do notw vish to be limited to this'showing inasmuch as where looms are not provided with electrical stop motions the feeler' may be connected so ascto actuate the shipper handle by means of a single circuit including the feeler. Neither do I wish to be limited to a form of wiring wherein'the ground of the loom is employed and it isqto be understood thatthe; electrical connections set forth herein are merely illustrative,

my invention relating particularly to the device to convert a mechanical feeler to one operating electrically.

From the foregoing it will be seen that. I have provided a simple device to render a normally mechanical feeler electrical in its operation. It will further be seen that the bolt which acts normally to hold the weft detector in position also serves to position the plate 50 and the insulator 57. Furthermore, said insulator together with the lugs 52 and 53 serve to position the detector and plate with respect to each other so that no matter what the angular position of the detector with respect to the lay, the plate 58 and its face 59 will always be operatively positioned to be engaged by the tail 38. c

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art withj out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention'and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. 'In a weft detector for a loom having a stand and a normally open electric circuit which when closed controls stopping mechanism, a detector element movable forwardly without angular movement when sufficient weft is present but moving angularly when insufficient weft is present on a detecting beat of the loom, a plate normally out of engaging contact with'the detector and interposed between the detector element and the stand, the detector element and stand forming part of the electric circuit, and a contact member forming part of the circuit supported by and insulated from the plate and positioned to have contact with the detector element, said element engaging a contact when the angular movement thereof is completed and independently of forward movement of the element, said contact member when engaging the detector element clos- 'ing the circuit to control the stopping mechaand a normally open electric circuit which when 7 ent on a detecting beat of the loom, an noncircular holder for the detector element, the whole -weight'oi the detector element being supported by a force transmitted through the holder, a plate interposed between the holder and the stand and having provision for engaging the holder at spaced points to prevent relative angular movement of said plate with respect to the holder, the detector, holder," plate and stand being part of the electric circuit, and acontact device forming part of the circuit supported by and insulated from the plate and positioned for engagement withthe detector when the latter has an angular movement, said contact device being part of the electric circuit and being effective when engaged by the detector to close the circuit.

- 3. In a-weft detector for a loom having a stand and a normally open electric circuit which when closed controls stopping mechanism, adetector element movable forwardly .without' angular movement when 'suflicient weft is present but moving angularly when insufilcient weft is present onv a detecting beat of 'the loom, a holder for the weft detector, the Whole weight of the detector element being supported by a force plate separate from the holder interposed becontact device forming part of the circuit rigid with respect tobut insulated from the plate and positioned'for engagement with the detector element when the lattermoves angularly upon indication of weft exhaustion to close said circuit. 4. Ina'weft detector for a loom having a stand and an 'electrically controlled fstopping mechanism, a detector element movable forwardly without angular movement when sufficient Weft is present but moving angularly when insufficient weft is present on a detecting beat of the loom, a holder for the detectonthe whole weight of the detector element being supported by a force transmittedthrough the holder, said holder having spaced angularly disposed surfaces, a plate interposed'between the holder and the stand, means formed on the plate to engage said spaced angularly disposed spaces of the holder to prevent relative angular movement between the plate and the holder, a contact member rigid with'but insulated from the plate and positioned for engagement with the detector at such times 'onlyfas the latter moves angulariy upon indication of weft exhaustion,

prevent angular movement of the combined contact element and support relatively to the bed, whereby it will preserve the angular relation between the contact device and the detector.

6. In a weft detector for a loom having a stand and a normally open electric circuit which when closed controls stopping mechanism, 'adetector element provable forwardly without angular movement when sufficient weft is present but moving angularly when insufficient weft is present on a detecting beat of the loom, a hold er under the detector supported by the stand, a plate under the holder and interposed between the stand and holder, means defining interengaging connections between the holder and plate to restrain relative movement between the plate Cry and holder in the plane in which the detector stand and a normally open electric circuit which when closed controls stopping mechanism, a detector element movable forwardly without angular movement when sufficient weft is present but moving angularlywhen insufficient weft is present on a detecting beat of the loom, a lay, a holder on the stand, a slide on which the detector is pivoted movable by a force transmitted through the detector in the direction of the advance of the lay, a plate under the holder, a

contact forming, part of the circuit and carried by the plate in position to be engaged by the detector when the latter swings angularly, and interengaging connections between the plate and holder to maintain said contact in the same position relatively to the path of movement of the slide regardless of the position of the holder relatively to the stand.

' 8. In an electro-mechanical feeler for a loom having a weft supply, a detector element capable of a side slipping movement when weft is absent, a slide on which the element-is mounted, a. stand in which the slide is guided as it moves toward cap and stand and through which a retaining element extends, a contact to engage the detector element at the time the element slips'sideways and a contact supporting plate fitting the stand, said plate having an opening to register with the slot in the ca'p'and stand and an upstanding ear to engage the inclined surface on the outside of the stand and cap to hold the same from angular movement; a

9. In an electro-mechanical feeler for a loom having a weft supply, a feeler stand, a detecting element capable of slipping sidewise when the weft supply is depleted, a slide on which the detecting element is mounted, means defining a housing in which the slide carrying the element is guided as it moves toward and from the supply, a slot extending through the housingand lying parallel to the slide, said housing having parallel surfaces on its outer edge, an inclined surface connecting the parallel surfaces, holding means passing through theslot and into the stand to hold the housing in a plurality of positions relative to the stand, and a pl'atelocated between the housing and'the stand, said plate. having an upturned end engaging the inclined surface and holding the housing'from moving angularly. I

10. In an electro-mechanical'feeler'for a loom having a weft supply, a feeler stand, a detecting element capable of slipping sidewise when the weft supply is depleted, a slide on which the detecting element is mounted, means defining a housing in which the slide carrying the element is guided as it moves toward and from the supply, a slot extending through the housing and lying parallel to the slide, said housing having parallel surfaces on its outer edge, an inclined surface connecting the parallel surfaces, holding means passing through the slot and into the stand to hold the housing in a plurality of positions relative to the stand, a plate located be,- tween the housing and the stand, said plate 'having an opening to register with the slot in the housing and through which the holding means extends, and an electric contact held by the plate in position to engage a detecting element.

11. In an electro-mechanical feeler for a loom having a weft supply, a feeler stand, a detecting element capable of slipping sidewise when the weft supply is depleted, a slide on which the detecting element is mounted,,means defining a housing in which the slide carrying the element is guided as it moves toward and from the supply, aslot extending through the housing and lying parallel to the slide, said housing'having parallel surfaces on its outer edge, an inclined surface connecting the parallel surfaces, holding means passing through the slot and into the stand to hold the housing in a plurality of posi tact held by'the plate in position to engage a detecting element.

12. A contact plate for a weft detector having an angularly movable detector'and a bed to support the detector, said plate having an electric contact device rigid therewith but insulated therefrom, means on the-plate extending transversely of the plane in which the detector moves angularly and establishing holding relation with opposite sides of the 7 bed to prevent angular movement of the latter relatively to the bed, said means preserving the angular relation between the detector and contact for all positions of the bed. 7 V

l 13. A contact plate for a weft detector having an angularly movable detector and a bed to support the detector, said plate having an electric contact device rigid therewith but insulated therefrom, means on the plate extending transversely of the plane in which the detector moves angularly and establishing holding relation with opposite sides of the bed to prevent angular movement of the latter relatively to the bed, said means preserving the angular relation between the detector and contactfor all positions of the bed, and said plate having provision supple,- mentary to the means by which it can be secured to the bed. j V

14. In a weft detector for a loom having a stand, a detector element movable angularly in a given plane to give indication of exhaustion and movable forwardly without angular motion when sufficient weft is present, a housing for the element, a separate plate, a contact member on the plate to engage the detector element, and

means transverse of the plane extending through the housing, plate and stand to hold the housing and plate firmly on the stand.

15. In weft detecting mechanism for a loom having a stand, a weft detector element having a side slipping movement on indicating beats of the loom in a given plane and movable forwardly on non-indicating detecting beats of the loom in substantially the same plane, a housing for said detector element, a plate substantially parallel to the plane, an electric contact member on the plate to beoperatively related to the detector element when the latter has a side slipping movement, means on the plate extending transversely of the plane to have holding relation with the housing, and means to hold the plate and housing to the stand.

16. In weft detecting mechanism for a loom having a stand, a weft detector element having a side slipping movement on indicating beats of the loom in a given plane and movable forwardly on non-indicating detecting beats of the loom in substantially the same plane, a housing for said detector element, a plate substantially parallel to the plane, a contact member carried by the plate and extending transversely of the plate to have direct electrical contact with the detector element when the latter has a side slipping movement, means on the plate extending transversely of the plane to have holding relation with the housing, and means to hold the plate and housing to the stand.

17. In weft detecting mechanism for a loom having a stand, a weft detector element having a side slipping movement on indicating beats of the loom in a given plane and movable forwardly on non-indicating detecting beats of the loom in substantially the same plane, a housing for said detector element, a plate substantially parallel to the plane, a contact member carried by the plate and extending transversely of the plate to have direct electrical contact withthe detector element when the latter has a side slipping movement and having a component parallel to the direction of forward movement of the detector on non-indicating detecting beats of the loom, means on the plate extending transversely of the plane to have holding relation with the housing, and

means to hold the plate and housing to the stand.

18. In an electrical weft detector for a loom having a stand, a detector element movable angularly in horizontal direction to give indication of weft exhaustion and movable forwardly without substantial angular movement on non-indicating detecting beats of the loom, a slide for the detector, a guide for the slide in which the latter is movable backwardly andforwardly, said guide supported on the stand, and an electric contact extending substantially parallel to the direction in which the slide moves, and said contact and the detector element being normally out of contact with each other on non-indicating detecting beats, and the detector element when swinging angularly having engagement with the contact,

the latter being insulated with respect to the detector.

OSCAR V. PAYNE. 

